Percussion

[JCM]

Sorry if there is a thread on this already but I did a search and came up with nada :). Anyway, this weekend I was at a youth conference playing drums. So during the evening session I switched with another drummer and went on the congas (for the first time in my life) and surprisingly, it went pretty well. I had so much fun I am now considering branching out as a drummer/percussionist after 2+ odd years as a drummer. My question is, is this too much too soon? If not, how do I begin as a percussionist? Do I stick to one particular type of percussion instrument (I've taken a fancy to the congas and the timbales)? I'm mainly a Gospel/Funk/Jazz player but the Latin stuff's pretty appealing to me at the moment.

[Deathmetalconga]

Sounds like you are on a good path already. I started the drum set at 18 and percussion at 21, so no, you are not "too soon."

Keep with the congas and I would learn the djembe as well. It's more accessible than the congas and more versatile. Everyone's first djembe rhythm is fanga, so learn that to get started. I would also pick up the dumbek, the primary Middle Eastern drum, and learn chiftitelli and karshlama. Learn the concept of clave and play it on clave sticks or gankogui, the African iron bells.

That would give you a good grounding in some popular, accessible ethnic percussion. There are plenty of sites out there to get you started, just search them out. Timbales have much more restricted uses so I wouldn't focus too much on those.

[maddrummr]

GO FOR IT!!

I am a percussionist. I started as a percussionist back when i was 11 in school band. I continue that in high school now. Everything helps eachother musically. Figures i see in a concert band chart I will take and use in drum set. For example, we played this latin tune in which had this interesting triangle part (sounds like an oxymoron but its true). I took what i could of that groove and put it to the bell of my ride and made a drumset groove out of it.